The Russian side took an unexpected step in the prisoner exchange process, which has become one of the key stages in the complex and lengthy war against Ukraine
According to information obtained from independent sources and reports by Ukrainian human rights organizations, Moscow handed over to Kyiv a substantial number of Ukrainians who had previously been deported from occupied territories and, according to official Moscow’s plan, were supposed to be returned to their homeland. Instead, they ended up in the shadows of Russia’s hospitable "reserve." The exchange took place in a "1000 for 1000" format from May 23 to 25: each side transferred 880 prisoners of war and 120 civilians. However, an analysis of open sources, including data from the public organization "Zakhyst Vyazniv Ukrayiny" (Protection of Ukraine’s Prisoners), revealed shocking facts: more than half of the returned civilians are individuals convicted of criminal offenses not directly related to the war. This highlights the contradictory and complex nature of this decisive step in diplomatic relations. The situation is further complicated by the fact that at least 15 of these individuals were in colonies on temporarily occupied territories of Kherson and Mykolaiv regions during the occupation. According to human rights defenders, they served various sentences and, under the terms of the agreement, were supposed to be deported back to Ukraine. However, instead, they were held in Russian centers for foreigners, who are illegally staying on Russian territory. This situation has sparked outrage and deep protests within Ukrainian society. Oleg Tsvily, head of the organization "Zakhyst Vyazniv Ukrayiny," emphasizes that Russia used this exchange to humiliate and confuse Ukrainian authorities, directly offering participants in the "deal" alternatives in the form of participating in combat operations within so-called "volunteer" formations. Official representatives of the Russian side offered prisoners of war comrades-in-arms, promising their return home without documents and with uncertainty about their future. According to reports, during the exchange, Ukraine received only 15 individuals convicted of serious crimes in occupied zones. These persons were in colonies controlled by occupying forces in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. They were included among those who would return to the Ukrainian legal system, but most of them are currently undergoing medical and psychological examinations. Others, three of whom have not fully served their sentences, were immediately re-detained after the exchange. The situation with another category of returned Ukrainians — former prisoners who were in Russia during the occupation — is even worse. Human rights defenders estimate that at least 50 of them are in a deported status and still cannot return to Ukraine due to bureaucratic obstacles and ideological-legal clichés. Experts note that authorities are delaying the resolution of their status, which causes additional disappointment and a surge of public reaction. “These are our compatriots who did not take up arms and did not betray their country. They waited and maintained a pro-Ukrainian stance, even when there was still time, and did not agree to Russian conditions,” comments Oleg Tsvily on the situation. He emphasizes that these people deserve respect and understanding because they remained loyal to Ukraine and did not betray their convictions. He also stresses that some of them could become defenders of the country in the future, and therefore, spreading negative rumors and traitorous assessments should be avoided. Prior to this, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first stage of a large-scale exchange, during which 390 Ukrainians were returned. Of these, 270 are servicemen, and the rest are civilians. At the same time, this process was tense and filled with unpredictable moments. For example, on May 23, Kyiv handed over to Moscow 70 individuals convicted of cooperating with Russian special services, including former associate of Victor Medvedchuk, Oleksandr Tarnashynskyi. Overall, this situation underscores the complex reality Ukraine faces in its military conflict with Russia and demonstrates that prisoner exchanges often go beyond simple humanitarian aid. They are part of dark political games, where human fates become commodities for trade, and where each new step is a story of unmeasurable pain and hope for the future.